Website of the UK government

Child Maintenance

Child Maintenance is regular financial support paid by the non-resident parent to the parent with care to help with the child's everyday living costs. It can be arranged through the Child Support Agency or through a private arrangement with the other parent. A parent’s financial responsibility for their child does not end if their relationship with the other parent ends.

If you (or your current partner who you live with) are claiming income-related benefits, the first £20 per week of any maintenance you receive will not affect those benefits.

• Find out more from the Child Maintenance Options website Opens new window

Maintenance if your ex-partner lives abroad

The UK has arrangements with more than 100 countries and territories that mean a person living in one country can claim maintenance from an ex-partner living in another. Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders - or REMO - is the name used in the UK for this process. REMO claims are handled by the courts.

Follow the first link below for a list of all the countries that the UK has a REMO arrangement with.

Making a claim against someone abroad

If you already have a court order for maintenance from when your ex-partner still lived in the UK, you should go to the court that made the order. The REMO process may attempt to enforce the existing court order in the other country. Use the link to the CourtFinder below to find contact details for the court. Staff at the court will be able to explain the process you will need to follow.

If you don't already have a court order for maintenance (if you only have a Child Support Agency (CSA) assessment, for example) you should contact your local magistrates' court or family proceedings court about applying for maintenance from the ex-partner living abroad. Use the link to the CourtFinder below to find contact details for your local court.

More information about the REMO unit is available by following the final link below.

• Countries that the UK has a REMO arrangement with Opens new window
• HMCS CourtFinder Opens new window
• More information about the REMO unit Opens new window

Child Maintenance Premium

The Child Maintenance Bonus is not available to people receiving Child Maintenance under the Child Support Agency’s new scheme (calculated after 3 March 2003). If you are a parent caring for your child and someone in your household receives Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you can keep up to £10 per week of any Child Maintenance paid for your child. This is called ‘the Child Maintenance Premium'.

Jobseeker's Allowance

If you are able to look for full-time or part-time paid work you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance. Whether or not you qualify and how much you get depends on your circumstances. To find out if you are eligible, click on the link below.

• More on Jobseeker's Allowance (money, tax and benefits section)

Employment and Support Allowance

If you are not able to work due to a health condition or disability you may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA offers you personalised support and financial help, so that you can work if you are able to. If you cannot work because of an illness or disability, you will receive a support component in addition to the basic rate.

• Find out more about ESA (disabled people section)

Income Support

If you aren't available for full-time work and you don't have enough money to live on, you may be able to get Income Support benefit. Whether or not you qualify and how much you get depends on your circumstances. To find out if you are eligible and to apply online, click on the link below.

• More on Income Support

In Work Credit

In Work Credit is a tax-free payment of £40 to lone parents (£60 for parents in London) who have been claiming benefits for a year or more and go back to work for at least 16 hours a week. In Work Credit is paid for a year on top of other working benefits. To find out more, speak to someone at your local Jobcentre Plus office.

• Find your local Jobcentre Plus office Opens new window

Childcare costs

Jobcentre Plus can also help with childcare costs as long as you place your child with a registered childcare provider and you are doing something connected with your chosen career. Once you are working you may qualify for Working Tax Credit, which could enable you to claim back up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs.

• Find out more about help with childcare costs

Job Grant

Job Grant is a one-off tax-free payment you may get when you start working for at least 16 hours a week and stop getting benefits. You may be entitled to Job Grant if you start to work for at least 16 hours a week, do not have a partner working for 16 hours or more per week and expect your work to last for at least five weeks. You must also have been claiming one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job:

• Jobseeker's Allowance
  
• Income Support
  
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
  
• Severe Disablement Allowance
  
• Plus/New Deal Allowance payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
  
• Employment Zone payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker's Allowance
  

• Further information on Job Grant and advice on how to claim (money, tax and benefits section)

Job hunting, childcare and financial advice

Jobcentre Plus has put together a free Choices Kit for lone parents thinking about work. It includes advice on job-hunting, childcare and financial help. You can order one by calling 0800 085 5701.

• Benefits and help for parents going back to work